CLK water pump?

[mrbriggs]

Hi all,

I think I've found out what the squeel was on my 97 CLK (138,000 miles). The water pump! This squeel has now turned in to a slight rattle and I think is getting louder. I am going to try some of that water pump lubricant stuff that you add to the coolant but I don't really hold out much hope on that!

Can someone tell me how easy it is to change the water pump and the best place to get it from?

Thanks

 

[mrbriggs]

Found a price on gsf around £89. Is this about right? Any cheaper places? I seriously hope that this is an easy job as I want to do it myself. Should I replace the drive belt as well?

Cheers

 

[Stevie A]

Replace the drive belt while your at it, you may as well. You may have to remove radiator too so buy some Merc coolant. I've changed a water pump on a M103 engine and it was slighty tricky to get to some bolts, but with a bit of patience it was ok.
It would take minimum probably 4 hours but I would start early doors and leave a day free for doing the job. You may have to remove power steering pump too but I don't know your engine.

 

[mrbriggs]

Thanks stevie_a, Do you think I could try that water pump lubricant? (something like this...http://www.barsproducts.com/product.cfm?id=10 ) It has only started the rattling noise since I changed the coolant when a pipe burst the other week.

Any CLK owners changed a water pump?

Thanks again

 

[big x]

If it is the original change it as the bearing is at the end of it's lifespan and will soon start to leak.Don't add any quack doctor additives to the coolant !

adam

 

[mrbriggs]

ARGGGGHHHHHHH

Just found out it's something to do with the steering pump!!! When I move the steering wheel, the noises changes, full lock it's noisier!!!

Any idea how much that would be?!!!

 

[jimsinessex]

Step 1 - check the oil level in PS, note that dipstick has two sets of marks for hot and cold.

Step 2 - remove drive belt and spin each auxiliary on it's own to pinpoint the noisy one.

Jim

 

[Parrot of Doom]

It may not be the power steering pump, when you move the wheel you change the amount of drag on the fanbelt.

 

[television]

I think the only way is to remove the belt,and turn each of the things by hand, or by using something like a long screwdriver with the blade on the running components and the handle to your ear. the idler ass: is the most likely culprit.

Malcolm

 

[Stevie A]

It's like Parrot says, the load on the power steering pump is heavier at full lock so it will be straining the water pump more too on full lock. Your water pump is on the way out and I completely agree with Big X too. You can check pulleys for play on PS pump and water pump. Your PS pump is probably ok.

 

[mrbriggs]

ok, checked the ps fluid level. on max for cold so I presume it is ok. Is the water pump just below the steering pump resevoir? That is where the noise is coming from. One other thing to note, the noise only starts when the car is warm. One other thing, what is the the idler ass?!

Thanks

 

[mrbriggs]

P.S. I will try the screwdriver trick today. Does anyone have a pic or diagram which shows what pulley drives what? Sorry to play dumb, but that belt seems to drive alot!!!

Also, I need to know where the tensioner is to loosen the belt.

Thanks

 

[mrbriggs]

Anyone?

I wanna try and sort this out tomorrow so any help would be great!

Lee.

 

[mrbriggs]

Television, what is the the idler ass?

 

[mrbriggs]

So is nobody going to help me?!!!

 

[jimsinessex]

I think he means the Tensioner Assembly which is the centremost pulley of the group of drive pulleys, looking from the front of the car. To slacken the belt put a torx bit on the screw on the pulley and rotate anticlockwise, an extension or breaker bar would probably help!

If yours is a Kompressor engine there is a separate idler on the other belt which drives the Komp and the alternator, this belt also has a tensioner device but you seem to be homing in on the power steering, waterpump drive belt.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[Parrot of Doom]

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb0.asp?TP=1

Find your car in there, the belt path will be in there.

 

[jimsinessex]

ok, checked the ps fluid level. on max for cold so I presume it is ok. Is the water pump just below the steering pump resevoir? That is where the noise is coming from. One other thing to note, the noise only starts when the car is warm. One other thing, what is the the idler ass?!

Thanks

The water pump is behind the fan.
Below the power steering reservoir is the pulley that drives the power steering pump.
Below that is the air con compressor drive with a clutch between the pulley and the compressor.

Jim

 

[jimsinessex]

oops

Just realised from another thread of yours that you have the 320 engine, this thread does not seem to mention the engine type so I assumed it was the 230.

Disregard my reply above, it doesn't apply

Jim

 

[mrbriggs]

OK, I've been away for a bit, and only just had a chance to take a proper look at it! It is definitely the tensioner. You can actually see it moving side to side in time with the rattle!!!

Will I have to get one of these direct from merc? Is it just the pulley or the whole unit? Is it an easy item to change? (looks it!) Is that a torx fitting on the centre of the pulley? Do you just tighten that?! I.E. left turn to slacken the belt and right turn to tighten. Is it that easy? Sorry to ask so many questions, I just like to be prepared before I take on some work.

Thanks for your help!!! Looks like I'll be getting my hands dirty soon!!!!

Lee.